India and the European Union today sought to "broaden" their bilateral engagement, in various fields, by leveraging the strength of Indian diaspora in EU countries.
"As far as our relationship with the diaspora is concerned, currently we are at a very interesting junction as India is asserting its position on various world forums.
"So, as India grows in stature, so does its diaspora and as the diaspora grows, it benefits India too. We need to have a very different kind of interaction. And, Indian diaspora is very fascinating," senior MEA official, D M Mulay said.
He was speaking here at a panel discussion on 'New Homelands: the Indian Diaspora in the European Union' hosted by the EU Delegation in India.
The event was held ahead of the opening of a photography exhibition on Indian diaspora community in EU as part of the diaspora project sponsored by the EU Delegation in India, at the India Habitat Centre.
"This project is about finding new friendships and bringing together two cultures and to show EU to a larger public. And, the purpose is to further strengthen the bond between the EU and India," Deputy Head of EU Delegation in India, Cesare Onestini said.
Three photojournalists were chosen as part of the project to travel to a few European countries, including Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Slovenia, and document their experiences of meeting Indian diaspora community there.
"We acknowledge the importance of Indian community in Europe and its importance in the future of the European Union. And, this project is part of our vision to broaden our bilateral engagement with India," a senior official of the EU Delegation in India said.
Nearly 30 million Indians are residing in various countries outside of India and about 6.3 million live in countries which are part of the European Union.
Mulay said the Centre's policy toward the diaspora has "evolved" and now "we take a 360-degree view of it. So not just the economic benefits they bring to us, but also cultural enrichment. Therefore, we have a more holistic approach now."
"We will be hosting the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas next year from January 7-9 in Bangalore, as part of which a new format of the event has been designed. There would be various thematic discussions, including on diaspora and inputs from those would be made part of the policy making," he said.
The exhibition captures the struggles and triumphs of various Indians who chose to settle in a different country, and how their relationship with India "evolved" over the decades.
Sweden-born Gautam S Bhattacharyya, who recently took charge as the Deputy Head of Mission in the Swedish Embassy, was also present on the occasion.
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